Combined work support and ironing board



May 2, 1950 Filed April 10, 1946 S. ZELZER COMBINED WORK SUPPORT AND IRONING BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor fiamje l er kg:

May 2, 1950 s. ZELZER COMBINED WORK SUPPORT AND IRONING BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1946 Inventor San zjgber Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED WORK SUPPORT AND IRONING BOARD Sam Zelzer, Calumet City, 111.

Application April 10, 1946, Serial No. 661,011

8 Claims. (01. 38-111) This invention relates to ironing boards, and is concerned more particularly with accessories therefor.

It is an object of my invention to provide ar. ironing board with means which will contain a moist sheet or curtain in convenient position off the floor and arranged so that it can be fed progressively onto the ironing board, progressively ironed and progressively fed into a container where it will collect substantially without wrinkling.

It is also an object to provide an ironing board with means which will facilitate the ironing of large pieces, such as sheets and curtains.

It is an additional object to provide an ironing board with means which will facilitate the ironing of sheets and the like and will not substantially obstruct movement of the operator.

Another object resides in the provision, in conjunction with an ironing board, of readily detachable means which will facilitate ironing.

A further object is to provide, in conjunction with an ironing board, means which will facilitate ironing and will not interfere with folding and storing of the ironing board.

An additional object is to provide an ironing board with a washable container for holding a sheet or the like to be ironed and permitting thev sheet to be progressively withdrawn therefrom and ironed, and another washable container for progressively collecting the ironed sheet.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and accomably covered with cloth l2 and having legs l4 and I6 and associated mechanism 18 for supporting the same from the floor, and adapted to be collapsed to allow the ironing board to stand on its end 20 when not in use, as is customary.

In accordance with my invention I provide at the near and far sides 22 and 24 of the ironing board, preferably fabric containers 26 and 28 which extend substantially throughout the length of the ironing board. Figs. 4 and show the collecting ccntainer, which, except for size, may be substantially identical with the supply container 26, as will appear. v

The near container 26 is adapted to contain a moist sheet or curtain whichis to be ironed, and in said container the sheet will be protected from being soiled by contact with the floor or other objects, and the sheet can be arranged so that an entire edge thereof is at the top so that it may be grasped by the housewife and placed over the ironing board and be ironed. The container at the same time keeps the moist sheet from contact with the housewiies clothing. The outer rim 30 of the container 26, throughout that portion of the length of the board which is of substantially uniform width, i. e., throughout that portion of the board along which the housewife stands when ironing, is in operation spaced from the board a relatively slight amount, substantially only sufficiently to enable the moist sheet, to be progressively withdrawn, and will readily yield pursuant to pressure should the housewife tend to stand closer to the board, so that the container does not prevent the housewife from taking a convenient stance such as she could take in the absence of the container 26.

For the purpose of mounting each container on the ironing board, I form each container with a hem 36 affording a sleeve. Each of the containers 26 and 28 is of generally rectangular shape and is preferably wider as shown at 38 adjacent the narrow end portion 40 of the ironing board. Openings 42 and 43 are formed in the inner portion 44 of the sleeve 36 at points proximate to the ends 46 and 48, respectively, of each container, and I provide special brackets to and 52 for cooperatingwith said ends to support each container from the board.

The brackets 50 and 52 may be substantially alike, and each comprises a preferably round stiff rod built into the form of a 2, so as to pro vide end legs 54 and 56 and a bridge 58, and an additional rod piece til is welded or otherwise secured, preferably to the bridge, and extends parallel to and in the same direction as the leg- 56, to provide parallel prongs, the distance along the bridge between the prong 60 and the leg 54 being the distance between an end 46 or 48 of the respective container and the adjacent sleeve opening 42 or 43, it being noted also that the angle between the leg 54 and the bridge is -the,

same as the angle between the cooperating container end 46 or 48 and the adjacent sleeve opening. The latter statement is made in view 2,5oe,479 1 Y 1' .1 z

3 the leg 54 of the brackets 50 and 52 being of such length that the brackets 50 and 52, when mounted as shownand as. will appear, maintain the outer portion .66 of the" container 26 or 28 substantially parallel'to the'parallel" edge portions 68 of the board.

tamer-supporting members attached to the bottom of said board adjacent but beyond said cover in order not to interfere with attachment and removal of said: cover, 8.1 limp; wasiiable:elongated narrow substantially rectangular 'c'ontainer of substantially the same length as said board, and

The containers 26 and 28 being made of fabric, it is evident that the free end itof theleg- 54- can be inserted in the corresponding sleeveropen' ing 42 or 43 and can be pushed like awcurtain rod along the hem sleeve until it occupies substantially the position shown, with the-prongs 56 and 60 disposed outside of the respective container. Mounted on the. bottom 1! of the'board' are spaced parallel sockets 12 disposed to snugly and"sli'dably receive the prongs 56' and 60; the sockets being so positioned that whenth'eprongs' are projectedthereinto as shown; the inner marg'in or the container issubstantiall'y"concealed bythelo'ngitudinalmargin 220F213 ofthe board; andthe'" containers are'held substantially taut.

The far or receiving container 2%; will be ob served; may be relatively substantiallywiderthan the nearor supply container 26-, in order to'accommod'ate the ironed sheetor curtain without crowding, so thatthesheet or curtain may move into and occupy the container 28 without creasing or wrinkling.

The containers 2'6'and28 andmountings'there'-- for are solocat'ed'that the'y oiferno interference" withthe legs and mounting mechanism therefor s'ecured at the bottom'of the board; regardless whether the legs'arecollapsed or in use; Con"- sequentl'y; when it is'desired to stand the"board' on its end as is customary, the legsoftheboard' can be collapsed in the usual way'andthe containers may remain mounted as shown; in which eventthe material of the containerswilfyieltlto the wall and occupy practically'no space beyond that occupied by'the" rojecting portions of the ironing board legs when they are collapsed.

Ifit'be. desiredito store the ironing boardwithout. the accessories above. described, or if for any other reason it is desired to separate the accesseries. from the ironing board, this may be done by: the simple expedient of pullifn'gf the brackets 5G and 52 out of'itheir respective sockets. As stated above," the. sockets are entirely free of the mechanism normally fou'ncli'at the bottom ofan ironing board. having 'a.. stand; and accordingly the sockets will not interfere with the. stand. construction, whether in. operatiye' or inihoperative position The brackets and 52 'arereadilyremoved', curtain rod fashion, from therespective hems. of the containers, andthefcontainers, being, of cloth. another suitable fabric, may be. readily washed and reused.

It will be seen from theforegoing that. I have provided means for greatly facilitating thelirom ing of' large sheet material by the provision of means which is easily mounted and dismounted and is not itself in the way.

v Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence I do not wish to be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentionedpexcept to theextent indicatediinthe appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.v

I claim:

I. An ironing board having a removable cover covering the top. edges and portions ofithebottom of'said' board adjacent the ends thereof, conmeans detachably mounting said container with its endssubstantially coterminous with the ends 'ofsaid board, said means comprising brackets detachably-connected with and rigidifying the end portions of said container and extending along the same-longitudinal side and the transverse end edges of the mouth of said container, portions of said brackets at said longitudinal side and spaced from the ends of said container in'conformity Withthe spacing of'saidsupportihg members from the ends of saidb'oa'rd being. est tachably engaged with said members for support ing. saidicontainer from saidboard' with the endsv of said board and container. substantiallypoterminous.

2'. In combination with an ironing board.- in cluding longitudinally spaced, bracket-engaging. container-supporting. members; an elongated narrow substantially rectangular container for sheets and the like to bev ironed. and made'en tirely of limp washable'material having, a hem. which, at a longitudinal side of" said contaii'ier, hasa pair of lateral openings, one adjacent but spaced from each. end of said container, individual generally Z-shapedbrackets detachably projecting. through the respective openings, each. bracket being mcnoplanar. and having its intermediatefleg extending in said hem from. one of; said openings to the adjacent end offsaid longi tudinal side, an end leg extending within said' hem. substantially throughoutvthe. length of the adjacent relatively short transverseedge ofsaid; container, and the other end ieg projecting out of v said hem at said opening, means on the intermediate legv of said bracket beingv detachably en. gageable withsaidsupporting members, whereby when. said' other leg lies under,. adjacent and.

parallelto the plane of the boardandsaid bracket;

means is soengag-ed, saidcontainer maybe sup-- ported from the board,

3. An 'i roning board having a removable cover covering the top, edges and portions'of the botntomof said board adjacent-the ends thereof,.'contamer-supporting members attached. to the bottom of said board adj acentbut beyond said cover in order notto. interfere-with attachment and.

removal of said cover, a limp washable elongated- Y narrow substantially rectangular container of substantially the same length as said board, and,

means detachabiy. mounting said container with its ends substantially coterniinouswith the'ends; of said board, said means comprising brackets.

detachably connected. with and rigidifying. the

ofsaidboa'rd and container substantially 'cotermin'ous, each bracket having a part substantially, spaced from the supportihg-member-engaging portion of'said' bracket in a direction away'from the adjacent end 'of said container and substantiallyengagie'dj with the bott'om'ofthe boardl 4. In combination with an elongated substantially rectangular washable limp container having a. hem with two openings respectively adjacent the ends of and at a longitudinal side of the container, a bracket in the form of a rod of substantially 2 formation adapted to be threaded through each opening into the hem and having an end leg of substantially the same length as an end edge of the container to occupy and therefore rigidify the hem thereat, the intermediate portion of said bracket being of substantially the same length and adapted to occupy and therefore rigidify the portion of the hem at said longitudinal side between such end edge of the container and the adjacent opening, the other leg of the bracket extending free of said container and adapted to be engaged with supporting means on an ironing board, whereby, when such brackets are thus assembled with the container, the container may be supported from the board.

5. In combination with an ironing board having container-supporting means and generally rectangular throughout a major part thereof and having a tapered relatively narrow end part and a limp washable elongated container of substantially the same length as the board and rectilinear throughout one longitudinal side thereof but with its other longitudinal side consisting of two angularly related portions, one substantially parallel with said one side and both coextensive with and adapted to extend in contiguity with the adjacent longitudinal edges of the respective rectangular and tapered parts of the board, the container having a hem at its mouth with the short edges thereof perpendicular to said one side, there being Openings in said parallel portion of the hem, a pair of rod-like Z-shaped brackets projecting respectively through the openings into the hem, each bracket having an end leg and its intermediate leg adapted to occupy and therefore rigidify substantially the entire length of the adjacent end edge of the hem and the portion of said longitudinal side between said edge and the adjacent opening, and its other end leg being adapted to project free of the container and engageable with the container-supporting means on the board, the outer end leg and the intermediate leg of one of said brackets being at an acute angle to each other in conformity with the angul-arity between the portion of the hem adapted to extend contiguously with the tapered part of the board and the adjacent short edge of the hem, whereby, when the freely extended legs of the brackets are connected with the supporting means, the container is supported by the board with said portions of the container contiguous with an edge of the board at the respective rectangular and tapered portions thereof and the ends of the container adjacent the ends of the board.

6. In combination with an ironing board having container-supporting means and generally rectangular throughout a major part thereof and having a tapered relatively narrow end part, a limp washable elongated container of substantially the same length as the board and rectilinear throughout one longitudinal side thereof but with its other longitudinal side consisting of two angularly related portions, one substantially parallel with said one side and both coextensive with and adapted to extend in contiguity with the adjacent longitudinal edges of the respective rectangular and tapered parts of the board, the container having a hem at its mouth with the short edges thereof perpendicular to said one side, there being openings in said parallel portion of the hem, and a pair of rod-like Z-shaped brackets projecting respectively through the openings into the hem, each bracket having an end leg and its intermediate leg adapted to occupy and therefore rigidify substantially the entire length of the adjacent end edge of the hem and the portion of said longitudinal side between said edge and the adjacent opening, and its other end leg being adapted to project free of the container and engageable with the container-supporting means on the board, the outer end leg and the intermediate leg of one of said brackets being at an acute angle to each other in conformity with the angularity between the portion of the hem adapted to extend contiguously with the tapered part of the board and the adjacent short edge of the hem, whereby, when the freely extended legs of the brackets are connected with the supporting means, the container is supported by the board with said portions of the container contiguous with an edge of the board at the respective rectangular and tapered portions thereof and the ends of the container adjacent the ends of the board.

7. A container adapted to be mounted on an ironing board having a tapered end portion, said container being formed entirely of limp washable material and being elongated and being rectilinear throughout one longitudinal side thereof, its other longitudinal side consisting of two rectilinear portions at an obtuse angle to each other and of lengths in conformity with a longitudinal edge of the board, one of said rectilinear portions being substanntially parallel with the first-mentioned longitudinal side.

8. A container adapted to be mounted on an ironing board having a tapered end portion, said container being formed entirely of limp washable material and being elongated and being rectilinear throughout one longitudinal side thereof, its other longitudinal side consisting of two rectilinear portions at an obtuse angle to each other and of lengths in conformity with a longitudinal edge of the board, one of said rectilinear portions being substantially parallel with the first-mentioned longitudinal side, said container having a hem at its mouth, said hem having openings adjacent the respective ends said other longitudinal side for the reception of mounting brackets.

SAM ZELZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 561,245 Wagner June 2, 1896 702,242 Oniel June 10, 1902 830,638 Boller Sept. 11, 1906 857,820 Mosher June 25, 1907 920,693 Treat May 4, 1909 957,537 Bean May 10, 1910 1,192,225 Rand July 25, 1916 1,538,722 Merrick May 19, 1925 1,597,563 Arndt Aug. 24, 1926 1,723,439 Petty Aug. 6, 1929 1,996,303 McConnell Apr. 2, 1935 2,048,458 McLhinney July 21, 1936 2,247,177 Rueping et al June 24, 1941 2,331,100 Baker Oct. 5, 1943 

